The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, or AMECEA, appealed to conflicting parties and regional stakeholders to open humanitarian aid corridors and provide security to aid workers to access conflict victims.
AMECEA President Archbishop Barhenayesus D. Souraphiel, who is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa, called on the government to cooperate with the international community in addressing the current crisis.
He appealed for the expansion of negotiations, saying the process should not be politicized and have to include all stakeholders to realize lasting peace in South Sudan.
AMECEA President said they were concerned on attacks on places of worship and church personnel particularly in Malakal Diocese.
The Archbishop said AMECEA was saddened by the fact that negotiations in Addis Ababa had been so slow.
He said the Eastern African Bishops urged concerned parties to realize one bitter fact of ‘South Sudan bleeding’ reflected by innocent people killed, thousands displaced, people’s rights abused and property destroyed.
Archbishop Souraphiel urged the conflicting parties to humble themselves and request God’s forgiveness.
He said AMECEA was ready to contribute to finding solutions to the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
Archbishop Souraphiel conveyed AMECEA condolences to all families that lost their loved ones, prayed for the souls of those who died and all people injured, displaced and those who lost their properties in the current crisis.
AMECEA includes Episcopal Conferences of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.